Although nearly 9-year-old Johan was not quite sure what all the excitement was about, he was clearly basking in the loving attention of students at<a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu"> San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC</a>) – the people responsible for his 9<sup>th</sup> birthday party.

“The whole experience was awesome and I know it meant a lot to my son,” said appreciative mom, Myriam Guerra.  Myriam and husband Sergio were approached by SJVC students wanting to both help a family and learn more about autism through shared experience. Autism is a group of serious developmental problems that appear in early childhood, usually before the age of three.

Student members of SJVC’s HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) club at the Temecula campus are committed to community service and volunteerism.  Each month the students focus their efforts on helping and supporting a compelling cause in their community. April was National Autism Awareness month so Clinical and Medical Assisting student and HOSA President, Ronnie Gabriel, set out to find a family with an autistic child who might share their experience with students and participate in an educational program and presentation.

A Facebook request brought Gabriel into contact with the Guerra family who were generous with their willingness to participate and help educate SJVC students about autism. When it was discovered that Johan, the Guerra’s autistic son, was about to have a birthday, HOSA students put together several fundraisers, including bake sales, photo shoot raffles and Cans for Caring, and began soliciting donations for a special celebration.

“Each month HOSA members raise money and volunteers their time for an agency, such as the American Heart Association or Mental Health Awareness,” says Gabriel.

This month, the Guerro family was given over $300 and family tickets to Disneyland/California Adventure and Seaworld/Legoland, as well as donations of haircuts, spa treatments (for parents), movie tickets and dinner certificates – but what the family truly appreciated was the opportunity for students to better understand autism.

“We were able to spread and increase awareness about autism, which is really needed,” said Guerra. “I know he (Johan) knows that all those people were there to see him and to learn about him and autism; I could tell by the way he was acting.”

During the event, <a title="SJVC Medical Programs" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-programs/">SJVC Medical program </a>students learned about autism through a presentation Gabriel made that included a touching video Gabriel put together about Johan’s life and progress.

“I hope this event inspires my fellow students to spread and increase the awareness of autism and  motivates them to make a difference,” said Gabriel.

“Our Temecula campus honored Autism Awareness Month with an informative and meaningful event,” said Robyn Whiles, Temecula Campus Director. Throughout the month, HOSA’s fundraising efforts and requests for donations<em> </em>benefitted a family, while instilling in them the importance of working toward a shared cause. “The outstanding effort touched the entire campus as they learned about living with autism and met a family who shared real life experience,” said Whiles.